Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Action from Danbury 11 and 12U's games against Australia club Perth on Friday at Rogers Park

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Australia's Ben Ray, right, is congratulated by Danbury's Christian Jeffers after he hit a home run during a game at Rogers Park on Friday.

Australia's Ben Ray, right, is congratulated by Danbury's Christian Jeffers after he hit a home run during a game at Rogers Park on Friday.

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury's Brannier Hernandez throws a pitch during a game against a visiting Australian squad Friday night at Rogers Park.

Danbury's Brannier Hernandez throws a pitch during a game against a visiting Australian squad Friday night at Rogers Park.

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury's Brannier Hernandez throws a pitch during a game against a visiting Australian squad Friday night at Rogers Park.

Danbury's Brannier Hernandez throws a pitch during a game against a visiting Australian squad Friday night at Rogers Park.

Photo: Ryan Lacey / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Danbury, Australian youth baseball players share memories on the diamond

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DANBURY — The terms home and visitor on the scoreboards in the outfield at Rogers Park have never carried more meaning than they did Friday night.

The fields turned into a form of a foreign embassy as a group of 11 and 12-year-old Australian players traveled more than 11,000 miles to face off against Danbury as part of a Northeast tour. The beginning of a memory-filled journey across the region began with a a pair of doubleheaders.

The families socialized between games 1 and 2, chatting while eating pizza and sandwiches. It was the second straight year that Perth, a city of almost two million people, visited Danbury and tourned the Northeast. The 12s donned USA shirts while the 11s wore their Danbury jerseys.

“They’ve been absolutely awesome,” Perth coach Steve Fish said. “(Danbury’s) Gary Simone and Brian Morehouse have done an unbelievable job; the times we’ve come have been incredible. Everyone made us feel at home; we were really excited to compete.”

Fish — who is from Portland, Oregon — wears several hats, most notably as a scout with the Boston Red Sox. Fish played professionally for seven years before settling in Australia with his family. For the past 10 years he has been part of Perth’s club system, which includes professional and youth teams. He’s brought two teams to the Little League World Series over the past five summers; there are more than 100 Little League teams in Perth alone. Fish is also the director for World Baseball Showcases, which organizes tours for clubs around the globe.

Danbury 11U coach Joe Hackert said it was an eye-opening experience for his team to see the sport being played in another hemisphere.

“This is amazing,” Hackert said. “Our kids looked forward to it; it’s an absolute honor for us to get to play against them, and I’m sure they feel the same way. This game is universal, it doesn’t matter about cultural differences.”

The 11U team finished up a successful season — that included a run to the state final and being co-champions of the Greater Hudson Valley League after their final was suspended due to darkness — about two weeks ago, but got to play two more times on this special occasion.

“They thought we were done until fall ball in September,” Hackert said. “Some weren’t here because of vacation but the ones who were here were very excited.”

Australian coach Nick Veale has been a part of Perth for several years as both player for the professional club and youth coach. Veale, a pitcher, attended Division II Minnesota State College before returning home.

Veale said that gaining everyday playing experience will prove invaluable in his kids’ development. Australian clubs do not play as often as Americans during the summer, but Perth will play 16 games in 18 days on the tour.

“In the summer back home, we play one game a week, train twice a week and that’s it,” Veale said. “They don’t get that everyday experience; it’s great that they can do that, to meet American kids and understand the game a little more.”

The club has a busy schedule before returning home August 27. Perth will visit New York City, Cooperstown, Albany, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Williamsport and Philadelphia and play exhibition matches in each.

The kids will also be treated to three Major League Baseball games, including one between the Yankees and Red Sox Sunday night.